Field Trip: Chrysalis Vineyards

I spent the first day of school at a winery.
Despite what the back-to-school Staples commercial would have you believe (it’s the most wonderful time of the year), moms always worry on the first day of school. Will they have someone to sit with on the bus? At lunch? Will there be an explosion of drama when they walk through the door?

And you know what’s a good distraction from all that worrying?

Wine.

So, my girlfriend and I packed a picnic and met my brother and his partner in Middleburg, Virginia. I had never been to Chrysalis Vineyards before this visit. I’d heard a lot about it, though. And Chrysalis is a bit polarizing. You either love it or you hate it. And most of the discontent has to do with two points — bathrooms and children.

1) Bathrooms (or the lack of bathrooms). On the weekends, the only bathroom facilities available are porto-potties down the hill. However, if you go on a Monday morning (like we did), and ask nicely, you get to use their inside bathroom. I was told the reason they don’t open their bathroom on the weekends is because it’s on a 30-year old septic system. And 30-year old septic systems don’t handle crowds well. Understood.

2) Chrysalis’ policy on children: No tiny humans allowed inside the tasting room or on the patio/deck. Before you even get out of the parking lot, you’re greeted with this sign. And then this one. And this one. Kids aren’t allowed inside the tasting room, or on the patio. There is a fenced off “kiddie corral” (that I forgot to take pictures of) where kids must remain, with an adult, at all times. Kinda makes me wonder what kind of Dennis the Menace incident prompted this policy.

I have mixed feelings on this issue.

Warning. I’m about to get on my soapbox.

I’ve seen kids do some terrible things at wineries. And if I owned a winery, I’d absolutely want to keep the potential for terrible things down to a bare minimum. But that doesn’t mean wineries aren’t a place for children. Wineries aren’t a place for out-of-control children. You know how kids get out of control at a winery? Their parents get liquored up and start not watching their children. And that’s when little Lucifer starts hanging from the downspouts and playing hide and seek in the barrel room. Parents . . . you’re at a winery, not Chuck-E-Cheese. The winery is not your babysitter. Kids at a winery are going to be bored. Plan ahead. Bring them something to do. And watch them. If you don’t think you can do that, leave your kids at home. Or go to Chuck E Cheese.

That said, I find most wineries in Virginia are generally welcoming to kids. We’ve been dragging our kids to wineries since they were infants. They’re old enough now to stay home, and believe me, given a choice, they stay home. We’ve been to a handful of wineries that gave us the side-eye and a mild Dolores Umbridge vibe, but this is the first time I’ve seen a winery go full Draconian and roll out what some would (and do) argue is unwelcome mat. And when you roll out an unwelcome mat, you make people feel . . . unwelcome. And unwelcomed people tell their friends. Seriously. I checked Yelp.

Here’s the bottom-line — we’re all guests at a winery. We have two choices — follow the rules, or go home. My advice? If you want to bring your kids (or your dog, or even outside food) to any winery, call or check the winery’s website before you go, so you don’t have any surprises.

Off my soapbox and on to the wines . . .

The tasting room at Chrysalis is small, we’ll call it intimate. But they have barstools, which is nice. They did tell us they are renovating, and building a new, state of the art tasting room that will open sometime in 2015. Perhaps it’ll have indoor bathrooms?

BTW, that’s not me or my brother in the photo below. I’m just trying to show the tasting room — there’s space for 8 tasters inside. And there’s a beautiful stone fireplace, which they use to . . . sell potato chips. It’s directly across from an industrial sized refrigerator with various meats and cheeses for sale. I didn’t think it was the best use of space, but I’m not an interior designer — this could be Feng Shui basic for all I know.

The tasting fees are $5 for the regular tasting, and $10 for the reserve tasting. The regular tasting gets you 7 wines, mostly whites and semi-sweets. The reserve tasting gets you the regular tasting plus five reds. And you get to keep the glass. [Eyeroll] Honestly, I think I should get a credit for not taking the glass home with me.

A word about Norton: Chrysalis considers itself an (the?) ambassador for the Norton grape. First introduced sometime around 1830 by Dr. Daniel Norton of Richmond, Virginia, Norton is often considered Virginia’s native grape. And, Norton is a very polarizing grape. You’re either on Team Norton or you’re not. Chrysalis has the largest single planting of Norton in the world at 69 acres. Chrysalis is so committed to Norton, they have a registered trademark — Norton: the Real American Grape!® The whole time we were at Chrysalis, I kept picturing that old Cocoa Puffs commercial with the Sunny the Cukoo Bird, screeching, “I’m Cukoo for Cocoa Puffs!!” Only, I heard, “I’m Cukoo for Norton!!”

All the grapes are estate grown at one of two Chrysalis vineyards: Locksley and Hollin. Chrysalis has done an excellent job listening to their terroir and planting grapes that grow and thrive here in Virginia. Kudos for not trying to force a Pinot Noir!

Albariño 2013 ⭐⭐⭐/87
This is a variety that’s popping up in Virginia more and more. As far as I know, only Chrysalis and a handful of others (Ingleside, Willowcroft, and Paradise Springs) are doing one. Dry and crisp, with flavors of apricots and green apple. Loads of pear on the finish. Refreshing, yet complex. My favorite of all the wines we tasted. Chrysalis also makes an Albariño Verde, but it wasn’t available as part of the tasting. $24.

Private Reserve White 2011 ⭐⭐/84
This wine is only available to VIP Club members, and yet it’s part of the tasting. Smart or sneaky marketing move? 57% Viognier, 23% Petit Manseng, and 20% Albariño. Aged in stainless steel and oak (part aged, part neutral). High acid, flavors of peach and apple. Long finish, but slightly bitter on the back end. $25.

Traminette 2013 ⭐⭐⭐/86
Traminette is a cross between Gewürztraminer and the hybrid grape, Joannes Seyve 23.416. It’s a cold-resistant grape, and I’m seeing it pop up at Virginia wineries more and more. Here’s the mark of an astute tasting room host — the Traminette is not on the tasting menu, but they had a bottle open from a VIP Club tasting the previous night. Our host said, “you guys seem to know what you’re doing”, and offered us a taste. That’s great awareness and customer service. The Gewürztraminer nose is always present in a Traminette — lychee and roses. Decently balanced at .2% residual sugar. Would be great with Asian or Indian food. $20.

Viognier 2012 ⭐⭐⭐/86
Fermented sur lie and aged in French oak. Lean and less tropical than some other Virginia Viognier I’ve tasted, definitely not as plush. Lemon and almond flavors. Spice on the back end. Good balance and acidity. $29.

Mariposa 2012⭐⭐/84
Modeled after a Spanish Rosato wine. I’m starting to pick-up on a Spanish theme here at Chrysalis, too. An estate grown grape blend of Tinta Cão, Tannat, Fer Servadou, Viognier and Norton (for color). The wine is very dark for a Rosé. The nose is light and reserved, but it’s a little odd — almost tannic. $15.

Sarah’s Patio White 2013 ⭐⭐/84
This is a blend of Vidal Blanc and Traminette, and Chrysalis’ best selling wine. 4% residual sugar. Why is it always the sweet wines that sell the best? We were told SPW used to be sold in a brown bottle, and when they switched to a blue bottle — sales tripled!! People love blue bottles? Not my cup of tea, but I get why it’s their best seller. Think sweet Gewürztraminer. $14.

Sarah’s Patio Red 2013 ⭐⭐/84
100% Norton. Whole-cluster pressed and tank fermented. A semi-sweet wine, with 4% residual sugar. It’s crushed and then the skins are removed for fermentation. We were told it’s the “white wine that’s red”. Lots of cherry flavors slight effervescence. Again, not my thing, but it would be great in Sangria! $14.

So who is this Sarah, anyway?
Sarah Girtrude Lynn, the “patron saint” of both Patio Reds, is buried just outside the tasting room. Sarah’s parents were once owners of the property where Chrysalis stands today. Sarah died of tuberculosis at the age of 16. I love the nod to genealogy. Hats off to Chrysalis for taking such good care of history.

Petit Verdot 2012⭐⭐⭐/86
Our tasting room host called this Chrysalis’ Cowboy Wine. The nose is über-funky, but the taste is much softer and lighter. Flavors of mineral, cedar, tobacco, and earth. Would love to see how this one ages. My favorite of the reds we tasted. $35.

Papillon 2012 ⭐⭐/84
A blend of Fer Servou, Tannat, and (wanna take a guess?) Norton. I made a tongue-in-cheek comment about Norton being in everything at Chrysalis, and our tasting room host responded with, “We like to sneak it in wherever we can.” Well played. This one is hugely tannic, some distinctly rough edges, flavors of earth and black pepper. 13.5% ABV. $35.

Chrysalis sells a port-style wine called Borboleta, but it’s not available for tasting. It’s 80% Norton (what else?) blended with Catoctin Creek (a local distillery) whiskey and aged in 20-year old Cognac barrels. $33. I bought a bottle of this on my way out . . . curiosity is killing me.

After our tasting, we bought a bottle of the Albariño and (since we were sans kids), went outside on the patio to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Tasting room front door . . . forgot to ask why teal?

Desserted patio, just the way I like it.

I love winery barns!

Outstanding views.

Great looking grapes!

There are several of these remote tasting stations located outside.

So where do I fall on the Chrysalis Polarization Scale? Honestly, I’m Chrysalis neutral. Chrysalis has a full complement of very decent wines and a beautiful setting. But so do a whole host of other Virginia Wineries. So what sets Chrysalis apart? I’d visit for their Albariño, and to experience the novelty of Norton. But I’d consider leaving Der Kinder at home.

Salud!

Disclaimer: Sometimes a winery will invite me to come out and do a tasting, which is a very different experience than visiting a winery as an anonymous taster. If I’m invited, I’m often afforded a few minutes with the winemaker, and given an opportunity to taste wines that aren’t usually available as part of a public tasting. And often, the tasting is complimentary. And as much as I enjoy that experience, I won’t solicit that experience. If a winery invites me, I will gladly come. But I also enjoy visiting wineries anonymously. I don’t call ahead, and I don’t mention I write a wine blog. I’ve never been comfortable with the idea that just because I write a wine blog, wineries should give me free stuff. The fact that I write a blog should be irrelevant to customer service — if you run a business, you should treat everyone who comes through your door the same way. After all, anyone can jump on Yelp and write a review. Most of the time, an astute tasting room host will be able to hone in on your level of interest and knowledge, and encourage it by offering more information, history, or even a wine not on the tasting menu. So, the point of this rather long paragraph — if I’m invited by a winery, or visiting anonymously, I will disclose that information. Either way, I’ll be writing about it.

Post navigation

16 comments

I was very interested to read about your experience at Chrysalis, and appreciate all of your comments. I attempted (yes, attempted) to go to Chrysalis about a year ago. My motivation was largely the “no kids” thing, because I’ve seen too many examples of bad parenting at wineries (including people putting their diapered children on the tasting bar and drunk mommies who think that the world is tasked with minding their toddlers). Anyhooo…. I paid for our reserve tastings, given a glass and a receipt, and told I’d have to wait for another 45 minutes to get my tasting. WHAT?! Seriously? The little eazy-up-ed tasting bars were empty (and their pourers were sitting on the tasting bars, texting away on their cell phones). I politely asked if we could possibly start our tasting ahead of the scheduled time, since no one was waiting or piling in behind us, but we were told that we’d have to wait for our assigned time. At that point I was sure that no matter what the quality of the wine may have been, for me it wouldn’t be able to wash away the bad taste I had at that point, so I got a refund and left.

Diapers on a tasting bar?!? That’s a whole new level of baaaaad (and gross) parenting! Good grief. I hate that you had such a negative wine tasting experience, Connie! And I wish your experience was isolated, but unfortunately, I read quite a few negative reviews on Yelp. Not much to do except move on to the next winery, right? Cheers!!

I remember that Chrysalis has this “no kids” policy, but when I visited them about 4 years ago, they had an open playground for kids, so I could taste the wine and see my kids play outside. I had an experience with the winery in the Hudson region in New York which I visited on the Father’s day, and I was told that we have to leave our kids outside of the dark unwelcoming entrance with the tasting room been on the second floor and no ability to watch the kids. I simply told the winery how much I appreciate their hospitality and left…
For all I remember, I liked the Chrysalis Norton, but it does need time to open up – I would say that 2011 is a bit young, but if you try the 2005, it might be an interesting wine.

I’m told now you must stay with your kids, at all times, in the “kids area” at Chrysalis. So if you and your spouse came to do a tasting with your toddler in tow, one of you gets to taste while the other gets to hang out in the play area. It’s a pretty common complaint on Yelp. But then there are those who LOVE their no kids policy, too. I think it comes down to being informed before you go . . . to this or any winery. The Chrysalis Norton is definitely the most complex I’ve had. I’d love to taste an older one to see if the wine picks up some more complexity and calms down a little bit. Cheers, Anatoli!!

This is very interesting. In all my time visiting wineries, I honestly can say that I don’t specifically remember ever running across any “no kids” signs or even any playground for children. My personal opinion is that children should not be allowed (I know, I know….some hate me right now!) I just think that alcohol, driving and children don’t mix…even in sips. Plus, alcohol is an “adult” thing – kids don’t necessarily need to be around it, especially because you can’t control other folks and their drinking and what your kids might witness. Thirdly, I’m a (cool!) Grandma, and although I love children, I personally like going to wine tastings without kids running around. Just my two cents. Having said that, I’m not griping on anyone else that has a different view. I just think it is a good conversation and one that many people would have an opinion on. Cheers! Miki

Thanks for your comment, Miki (I love that name, btw). Kids at wineries is a subject that’s always going to raise controversy. Obviously, I think kids at a winery can work, but only if the parents PARENT their children while they’re there. Otherwise, it’s a disaster. When we used to take our small kids to wineries for picnics, ONE of us would taste . . . the other would drive and herd the cats, er, kids! I’ve seen a couple of wineries in Virginia with “adults only” areas, but never one with a kiddie corral. And then there are wineries in Virginia who not only welcome families (and dogs!) but encourage it. Barrel Oak comes immediately to mind.

At the end of the day, there’s a favorite Virginia winery for everyone . . . you just have to find it! Cheers!!

Grape jelly in an ashtray…that is quite the visual, and thinking of tasting that seems revolting. I’m not sure how welcoming this place sounds, but it sounds like the wines weren’t too terrible, so it doesn’t seem like a complete loss.

I am so sick of those dang souvenir tasting glasses! My cupboards are stuffed with them. I swear they multiply like rabbits once they get in there, too. I try to throw them away but my wife intercepts. Now I say no at the winery. We should really get discounts for doing that!

I absolutely agree with your “soapbox” The children are unruly because of the parents behavior. And as for the wine glass, again- really? how many glasses can you take home. Take the money you spend on ordering glasses and have better quality glasses in the tasting room. I am seeing more and more Albarino even in Sonoma/Napa and Central Coast. I would not call it common, but it is popping up. Finally, I agree with the customer service. A smile and little friendliness go a long way. People often comment on the tasting experience more so than the wine itself when tasting socially.

Amen! I wish more wineries would stop giving away the cheapy-cheap glasses and use Riedels (or the like). Albariño is a really interesting grape . . . perhaps it’s getting ready to have a “moment”?? A fun, knowledgeable tasting room host can really MAKE a wine tasting experience. When I come across one, I always send an email to the owners. Cheers, Lori!!